Annual calendar shattering Down syndrome misconceptions celebrates 10-year milestone

For the last 10 years, Kitchener, Ont.-based photographer Hilary Gauld and members of the Wellington Waterloo Down Syndrome Society (WWDSS) have been debunking stereotypes surrounding people with Down syndrome through a series of photographs.

An annual calendar, which started simply a fundraiser for the advocacy group, has evolved into an international campaign educating people on Down syndrome. 

Gauld recalls being asked to be part of the project by her friend, who had a son with Down syndrome. 

"I said 'absolutely,' and not really having any first-hand, lived experience with people with Down syndrome, I wasn't sure what to expect," Gauld said.

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The Morning Edition - K-W5:13Annual calendar highlighting people with Down Syndrome celebrates 10 years

Smashing stereotypes through the power of photography. An annual calendar from the Waterloo Wellington Down Syndrome Society received national recognition and a documentary is now being released to mark the milestone.

After the first photo shoot that included 31 families, Gauld said she decided to do some more research online about the way people with Down syndrome were portrayed. 

"The imagery wasn't the best quality, and I just really felt that it didn't depict people in an authentic and responsible way," she said. 

"After the first year, we just started posting photos online. We were both quite surprised at the reaction from people taking it in that they had not seen people with Down syndrome in this particular way."

That's when they decided to make the calendar a tradition. 

Breaking the stigma

The photo series continued to gain recognition over the years, with People magazine featuring the campaign multiple times. 

Tara Hart's daughter, Noelle, has been part of the calendar for the last nine years and said the experience has changed their family's lives for the better. 

"In her school, for example, she is the only one that has Down syndrome. So having that opportunity to see so many friends with Down syndrome and so many faces with Down syndrome in one place I think is a beautiful thing because it makes her feel like she belongs." 

After Noelle was born 10 years ago, Hart said doing an online search about Down syndrome was very disheartening. 

"The photos that were available, a lot of them were outdated and very clinical. Some diagrams pointing to the physical features of Down Syndrome and as a new parent just receiving that diagnosis, it was horrible," Hart recalled.

Fast forward to today and Hart said Gauld's photographs have changed the narrative around the world. 

"I feel like we as a group of families are educating the wider community, but I feel personally that we are also helping to educate each other because every person with Down syndrome is so different." 

While the main goal has been to continue raising awareness and understanding for the Down syndrome community, Gauld said her involvement has helped her grow both personally and professionally. 

"It's really grown my capacity to learn about communities and understand that when I go to create imagery for them, I have a responsibility to that community to help them tell their stories in the right way."

Marking a milestone

A documentary by Digital Sabbath Film Company titled Decade has been created about the initiative.

Gauld, Hart and her daughter Noelle are all featured in the film.

So is Ren Franklin, a 29-year-old Kitchener resident with Down syndrome who has been part of the project since its inception. 

"It's amazing and makes me feel more special, more love and courage," said Franklin. "[It gives me] hope and dreams for the future."

The film is set to premiere Sunday at WWDSS's 10-year gala, where Franklin will give a speech, as will Canadian actress and Down syndrome advocate Madison Tevlin. 

"I'm already getting emotional thinking about it because I think it's going to be a really beautiful opportunity for people in the community to see all of the advocacy work that's been done over the past 10 years," said Hart. 

Oct. 28 marks the beginning of Down Syndrome Awareness week in Canada. 

While Gauld said she's extremely proud of the strides that have been made over the last 10 years, she added the work is far from finished.

"There's still so much more to do in this particular space in order to make room for people with Down syndrome in other areas, whether it be employment or community activities as they grow older."